Apparatus for reforming crown caps



July 12, 1949; H; A, NK 2,475,830 APPARATUS FOR REFORMING CROWN CAPS Filed April 13,v 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 E12-QE- |"1 f6 l 2@ 1x J3 E112-a5- MEL Patented July 1.2, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FR REFGRMING CROWN CAPS Application April 13, 1944, Serial No. 530,881

6 Claims.

The invention relates generally to apparatus for reforming or reshaping salvaged crown caps and it primarily seeks to provide novel means by employment of which both the main body or 2 Figure 8 is a side elevation of one of the shaping fingers.

Figure 9 is an edge View of the same. Figure 10 is a section on the line lll-l0 of dome portion oi the caps and also the crimped Figure 8. skirt portions thereof may be accurately reshaped Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view so as to adapt the salvaged cap for re-use as illustrating a portion of a cap, with a portion of an effective sealing element. the die ring, and portions of several fingers of the In order to satisfactorily reshape salvaged punch. crown caps in the manner stated it is necessary Referring now to the drawings, the assembly to provide a die and a `cooperating punch, the die includes a bolster 5 of a die press, upon which is having the proper scallops and indentations to supported a shoe 6, to which a die l is secured, engage and conform to the exterior of the crimps and a reciprocating punch 8 for cooperation with or corrugations of the skirt of the cap when rethe die for reshaping the caps, together with a formed, and the punch being formed with col5 knock-out block for stripping the reformed caps operatingnppojetionswto engage the interior of from the die, and means for removing the caps thekirt and press all portiormf'into-enfwfromnthenmh. gagement with the reshaping face of the die. In The die l comprises an annular base 9, a formpractice the scalloped and indented portion of ing ring l0, a knock-out block I l and a shearing the die may be, and preferably is, the standard and clamping ring l2. The base 9 is seated in a forming ring such as is used in the manufacture recess i3 formed in the upper face of the shoe, of the caps. Fou/ever, a punch shaped to conand is held rmly therein by screws I@ extending form to the die ring, if formed in one piece, would upwardly through the shoe, and tapped into the be difficult and expensive to make, as it would base as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2. The require a great amount of `machining and conforming ring ld is arranged within a bore l5 in siderable hand work. the base member 9, and comprises an annular A further object of the invention is to provide cylindrical body portion it having an upstanda novel form of punch which may be made at a ing flange l1 which is scalloped and indented to comparatively low cost and more accurately conconform to the contour of the outer face of the form to the die than would be possible if made in skirt of the cap, as illustrated in the lower poro-ne piece without entailing unreasonable eX- tion of Figure 11. The lower portion of the bore pense. I5 is of reduced dia-meter as at i8 forming a With the above and other objects in view that shoulder I9 upon which the bottom of the ring will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invenlll rests, and the shearing and clamping ring l2 tion will be more clearly understood by reference rests upon the upper end of the body l of the to the following detailed description, the appendring thereby clamping it lirmly between said ring ed claims, and the several views illustrated in the and the seat I9. It should be noted that the accompanying drawings. wall of the ring lll is thicker than the width of In the drawings: the shoulder i9 so that the inner edge of the Figure 1 is a vertical section through a die 40 ring overhangs the lower portion of the bore for press assembly embodying this invention. a purpose hereinafter described. The inner face Figure 2 is a similar sectional view, upon an of the bore of the ring l2 iits snugly against the enlarged scale, of the cooperating portions of the outer face of the flange il and extends a distance die and punch. above the same thereby reinforcing the ilange Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the 45 against the impacts from the punch and providline 3-3 of Figure 2. ing a shearing edge directly above the outer edge Figure 4 is -a similar section taken on the line of the shaping flange. l-A of Figure 2. vertically movable within the bore of the ring Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional View taken i0 is the knock-out block H, the upper face of on the line 5--5 of Figure 2. 50 which is concave as at 20 to conform to the dome Figure 6 is an elevation of the lower end of the of the caps and complement the scalloped and inbody portion of the punch without the shaping dented flange to .complete the die when the block fingers. is in lowermost position with its base resting on Figure 7 is a section on the line '1 -'1 of Figthe shoe 6, or the bottom of the recess i3 formed ure 6. 55 therein.' The block H-'is formed with a base flange 2l located in the reduced portion I8 of the bore and which engages the inner or overhanging portion of the end of the ring I to limit the upward movement of the block. This upward movement of the block is sucient to raise the upper end of the block to the top of the flange l1 so as to strip the cap from the die ring.

To actuate the knock-out yblock II, to force the cap from the die When the punch is retracted, a spring pressed disc 22 is provided which is equipped with a plurality of knock-out pins 2 3 extending through the bolster 5 and the shoe 6, and engaging the bottom of said block. The disc 22 is slidably mounted on a 'bumper rod 24 xed to the bolster 5, and concentric with the axis of the die, vand a spring is interposed between the disc and an abutment (not shown).

The punch 8 comprises an elongated cylindrical body 26, means on the lower end thereof for forcing the skirt of the cap into the scallops and indentations of the die, and means for knocking theV cap from the end of the punch when the punch is retracted Ifrom the die. Adjacent its lower end the body of the punch is reduced in diameter, as at 21 to fit within the bore of the ring I2, and at the lower end is further reduced in diameter -as at 2,8, to t snugly within the cap resting in the die. Between the adjacent portions 2 and 23, the punch is obtusely tapered forming a bevelled face 2,9 for aring the edge of the cap skirt. The lower face of the punch is convexly formed as at to correspond to and cooperate with the concave face 2 0 of the knockout block I I to reshape the dome of the cap.

In order to force the skirt of the cap into the scallops and indentions vof the die, the punch is provided with a plurality of projections corre-WN sponding in number .to and cooperatin'grwithsaid scallops and indentations. The standard crown cap has twentyone scallops in its skirt, and therefore the 4"die and the punch have a like number of corresponding parts to reform the same.

T o this end the die ange has twenty-one scallops and indentations 3|, and the punch is provided with a like number of projections 32. These projections are formed as part of lingers 3 3, made of tool steel of the proper gauge, and are seated in radially formed grooves 34 milled longitudinally in the lower portion of the body of the punch as illustrated clearly in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings. The ngers are shaped to lit .exactly in their respective grooves except that the outer edge 3-5 extends slightly fbelow the lower edge of the reduced portion 21 of the punch to form the projection 32, and then curved inwardly and downwardly until the lower portion is flush with the outer face of the reduced lower end 28 of the punch. The edge of the projection 32 is V-shaped as indicated at 3.6, and this tapers off as it approaches the bottom so that the lower end is flush and smooth with the surface of the portion 28. At the upper end, each nger is formed with an outwardly extending lug 31 which projects beyond the face of the portion 2,1 of the punch to be engaged by an inwardly extending annular flange 38 on a sleeve 39 inclosing the lower portion o f the punch except the die engaging end. The body of the punch is provided with an annular ange 40 to which the sleeve 39 is secured,

as by screws 4 I.

Directly above the portion 21 of the punch, in which the lingers 33 are located, the body of the punh .is Provided with. ,an annular groove 42 coexterisire .in depth with the grooves 34. and in said groove is tted a hardened steel ring 43 which is formed in two parts, and constitutes a backing or abutment for the fingers 33 to take the thrust thereon. This two part ring is illustrated clearly in Figure 3 of the drawings.

To knock the caps from the end of the punch, when said punch is retracted, a 4block 44 is provided in the end `of the punch and is xed to the end of a stem 45 which extends longitudinally through the punch, and terminates in a head 46 which engages an abutment (not shown) when the punch reaches the limit of its upward stroke. The block 44 fits snugly in a recess 41, and the stem extends loosely through a bore 48. Extending through the block 44 and communicating with the bore 48 is a vent 49 to facilitate loosening the cap from the block, and the periphery of the block is formed with grooves 50 which constitute vents to`assure free reciprocation of the block.

The upper end of the bore 4B is enlarged as at 5I to provide va seat 52 for a spring 53 interposed between said seat and the head 4B.

The operation of the device is as follows:

With the punch elevated, the spring 25 will raise the block lI I through the medium of the disc 22 and the pins 23, so that the upper face of the block is above the upper edge of the die ring I0. The cap to be reformed is placed by any suitable means in position upon the die, and the punch lowered. As the punch end enters the die the projections 32 will engage the original corrugations in the cap and carry the cap downwardly in the die ring I 0 forcing the knock-out block I I downwardly against lthe tension of the spring 25 until the parts assume the position illustrated in the drawings;particularly"Figures' land 2, which is the position of greatest compression, and which will perfectly reshape the cap as hereinbefore described. Should the cap being reformed be one so distorted that a perfect centering is impossible, the skirt will be slightly longer on one side of the cap than on the diametrically opposite side. In this case, when the edge of the skirt is flared outwardly by the beveled portion of the punch between the portions 21 and 28, the edge of the punch at the bottom of the portion 21 will cooperate with the inner upper edge of the shearing ring I2 to remove the excess from the skirt. The punch is then retracted, and as it leaves the die, the spring 25 will force the knock-out block upwardly, following the punch and stripping the cap from the die. As the punch reaches the limit of its retraction, the head 46 engages an abutment (not shown) which forces the stem 45 downwardly projecting the lower end of the block 44 from the recess 41, thereby knocking the cap loose from the punch.

While one 4form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as delned in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a device for reshaping crown caps, a support, a die on said support, said die comprising a base member having a vertical bore formed with an annular seat, a forming ring having a cylindrical body portion resting on said seat and an upwardly extending flange serrated and indented to t the outer crimped face of the skirt of the caps, a ring xed to said base member and clamping the body of said forming ring on said seat, said ring fitting snugly about said flange and extending above the upper edge thereof, a block slidably mounted in said forming ring and having an end face complementing said ring to complete the die when the block is in fully retracted position, and means normally tending 4to raise said block to strip the caps from the die, in vcombination with a punch comprising a body portion having an end shaped to enter the cap being reshaped and force the skirt into the serrations and indentations of the die.

2. In a device for reshaping crown caps, a support, a die on said support, said die comprising a base member having a vertical bore formed with an annular seat, a forming ring having a cylindrical body portion resting on said seat and an upwardly extending flange serrated and indented to t the outer crimped face of the skirt of the caps, a ring fixed to said base member and clamping the body of said forming ring on said seat, said ring fitting snugly about said flange and extending above the upper edge thereof, a block slidably mounted in said forming ring and having an end face lcomplementing said ring to complete the die when the block is in fully retracted position, means normally tending to raise said block to strip the caps from the die, in combination with av punch comprising a body portion having an end shaped to enter the cap being reshaped and force the skirt into the serrations and indentations of the die, and means for knocking the cap from the punch when said punch is retracted, said meansywhen'retracted`r being seated entirely within the punch` and f theslfiapingifacethereof"AW 3. In a device of the classdescribed, cluding a forming ring Aprovided, with a flange having corrugations and indentations to conform to the exterior of the crimped skirt of a crown cap, a clamping ring engaging the upper end of said forming ring and having a bore to snugly receive said flange of the forming ring and extend Iabove the upper edge thereof, in combination with a reciprocating punch comprising a cylindrical body portion adapted to enter snugly within said bore of the clamping ring, the lower end of said body portion being reduced in diameter to enter within the flange of said forming ring, said body portion being formed with radially disposed grooves extending longitudinally thereof, fingers fixed in said grooves and having projections thereon for engaging the inner face of the skirt of the cap and forcing the same into the corrugations and indentations of the die, and 55 an abutment for the inner ends of said fingers.

4. In a device of the class described, a die including a forming ring provided with a flange having corrugations and indentations to conform to the exterior of the vcrimped skirt of a crown cap, a clamping ring engaging the upper end of said forming ring and having a bore to snugly receive said flange of the forming ring and extend above the upper edge thereof, in comorming apartlof the die, an abutment for the ends of said fingers and means for retaining said fingers and abutments in position and the portion of the body of the punch between the said reduced body por-l tion and said end portion being obtusely bevelled to flare the edge of the skirt.

5. In a device of the class described a die shaped to conform to the outer surface of a crown cap, and a punch for forcing salvaged caps into all portions of said die, said punch comprising a cylindrical body portion, said body portion being reduced in diameter adjacent its die engaging end, and the end portion being further reduced in diameter, to t within the cap being reshaped, said reduced portion and said end portion being formed with longitudinally extending radially disposed grooves, lingers tting said grooves and having projections extending below the rst mentioned reduced portion of the punch, said body portion having an annular groove above the upper ends of said fingers, a hardened ring in said groove, outward extending lugs on said fingers, a sleeve enclosing the lower part of the punch except the die engaging portion, and an inwardly extending flange on said sleeve engaging beneath said lugs.

6. In a device of the class described a die shaped to conform to the outer surface of Ia crown cap, and a punch for forcing salvaged caps into all portions of said die, said punch comprising a cylindrical body portion, said body portion being reduced in diameter `adjacent its die engaging end, and the end portion being further reduced in diameter, to fit within the cap being reshaped, said reduced portion and said end portion being formed with longitudinally extending a, die mili`radia1ly"-disposed grooves, fingers fitting said 'f grooves and having projections extending :below bination with a reciprocating punch comprising 6 a cylindrical body portion adapted to enter snugly within said bore of the clamping ring, the lower end of said body portion being reduced in diameter to enter within the ange of said forming ring, said body portion being formed with radially disposed grooves extending longitudinally thereof, and ngers xed in said grooves and having projections thereon for engaging the inner face of the skirt of the cap and forcing the same into the corrugations and indentations of Ythe rst mentioned reduced portion of the punch, said body portion having an annular groove above the upper ends of said lingers, a two part hardened ring in said groove, outward extending lugs on said fingers, a sleeve enclosing the lower part of the punch except the die engaging portion, and an inwardly extending flange on said sleeve engaging beneath said lugs, holding said fingers in their respective grooves and said two part ring in place.

HENRY A. FINK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 602,916 Schafer Apr. 26, 1898 613,936 Painter Nov. 8, 1898 631,785 Gebhardt Aug. 29, 1899 882,060 Glenn Mar. 17, 1908 989,380 Mayo Apr. 11, 1911 1,251,242 ODonnell` Jan. 1, 1918 1,696,242 'Kochendorfer Dec. 25, 1928 1,768,294 Reid June 24, 1930 1,775,432 Jessen Sept. 9, 1930 1,940,581 Carter Dec. 19, 1933 2,283,503 Johnson May 19, 1942 2,329,325 Berry Sept. 14, 1943 2,363,815 Stone Nov. 28, 1944 2,394,876 Salazar Feb. 12, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 85,447 Austria Sept. 10, 1921 

